De Groot steps up to lead Highlanders

The Highlanders will have a new captain and a most unfamiliar loose forward combination when they play the Waratahs in Sydney tomorrow night.

Southland prop Ethan de Groot will wear the captain’s armband in the absence of benched skipper Billy Harmon.

With Harmon and fellow leadership group member Sean Withy given the (temporary) boot for a breach of team discipline, the rarely smiling giant will have a massive role to play on a challenging evening.

Just as well All Blacks loosehead de Groot’s shoulders are broad.

"Ethan has had huge growth in his leadership over the past two or three years after coming in as a young prop," Highlanders coach - and former custodian of de Groot’s No 1 jersey - Clarke Dermody said yesterday.

"He’s coming from the World Cup, so he’s had that experience, and I know he’s excited by this opportunity. He’s also pretty clear around the fact he’s filling in a hole for Billy, and he’s going to do the best he can."

Also riding the pine is in-form blindside Sean Withy, another to have felt the sting of disciplinary action for meeting tardiness.

That means a rather unexpected Highlanders debut at No 6 for Otago loosie Tom Sanders, while youngster Nikora Broughton gets a rare start on the openside flank.

Sanders, who earns his 47th Super Rugby cap after stints for both the Chiefs and the Crusaders and a spell in Japan, made his return from suspension in a game for the Highlanders Bravehearts last weekend and effectively jumps straight off the plane into the heat of Sydney.

"He’s excited, obviously," Dermody said.

"I think he’s the 167th forward to play for the Highlanders, and he’s really motivated to put in a good performance."

Withy is Harmon’s main backup at No 7 so the Highlanders have had to think a little outside the square, though Dermody rates Broughton’s ability on the flank.

"He’s played there before, and he’s done well when he’s been on the field for us so far this season.

"We see him as a different athlete to the other boys. We’ve got a big task in front of us with a physical Waratahs pack, so we can utilise his skillset early in the game."

The unintended benefit of the disciplinary issue is it means the Highlanders, assuming they are in the fight with half an hour to go, can bring on the ability and leadership of two senior players who should be reasonably motivated to make amends.

Fabian Holland moves back into the second row to replace the luckless Pari Pari Parkinson, who is back in Dunedin with a minor knee complaint.

Outstanding No 8 Hugh Renton, as he did several times last season, will provide locking cover.

The rest of the Highlanders’ starting XV is unchanged from the 37-29 loss to the Blues in Melbourne last Friday.

James Arscott replaces fellow halfback Nathan Hastie in the only change to the back reserves.

Talented centre Izaia Perese returns to the starting lineup for the Waratahs, fresh off their 37-24 upset of the Crusaders.

Triston Reilly starts on the wing, lock Hugh Sinclair plays his 50th game, and former Brumbies prop Tom Ross is in line for a Waratahs debut off the bench.

Highlanders team to play Waratahs

Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Tanielu Tele’a, Sam Gilbert, Jona Nareki, Rhys Patchell, Folau Fakatava, Hugh Renton, Nikora Broughton, Tom Sanders, Max Hicks, Fabian Holland, Jermaine Ainsley, Henry Bell, Ethan de Groot (captain). Reserves: Ricky Jackson, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Saula Ma’u, Sean Withy, Billy Harmon, James Arscott, Ajay Faleafaga, Jonah Lowe.

hayden.meikle@odt.co.nz